But, gentle heavens,
232 Cut short all intermission. Front to front
Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself.
Within my sword’s length set him. If he scape,
Heaven forgive him too.
MALCOLM This tune goes manly.
236 Come, go we to the king. Our power is ready;
237 Our lack is nothing but our leave. Macbeth
Is ripe for shaking, and the pow’rs above
239 Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you may.
240 The night is long that never finds the day.
Exeunt.
V.1Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting Gentlewoman.
DOCTOR I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive no truth in your report. When was it she last walked?
GENTLEWOMAN Since his majesty went into the field I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown5 upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it,6 write upon’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.
DOCTOR A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching.10 In this slumb’ry agitation, besides her walking and other actual performances, what at any time have you heard her say?
GENTLEWOMAN That, sir, which I will not report after her.
DOCTOR You may to me, and ’tis most meet you should.16
GENTLEWOMAN Neither to you nor anyone, having no17 witness to confirm my speech.
Enter Lady [Macbeth], with a taper.
Lo you, here she comes. This is her very guise, and,19 upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.20
DOCTOR How came she by that light?
GENTLEWOMAN Why, it stood by her. She has light by her continually. ’Tis her command.
DOCTOR You see her eyes are open.
GENTLEWOMAN Ay, but their sense are shut.
DOCTOR What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands.
GENTLEWOMAN It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus washing her hands. I have known her continue 30in this a quarter of an hour.
LADY MACBETH Yet here’s a spot.
DOCTOR Hark, she speaks. I will set down what comes from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.
LADY MACBETH Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One–two–why then ’tis time to do’t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so 40 much blood in him?
DOCTOR Do you mark that?
42LADY MACBETH The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? What, will these hands ne’er be clean? No more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that. You mar all with this starting.45
46DOCTOR Go to, go to! You have known what you should not.
GENTLEWOMAN She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that. Heaven knows what she has known.
50 LADY MACBETH Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.
Oh, oh, oh!
53 DOCTOR What a sigh is there. The heart is sorely charged.
GENTLEWOMAN I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole body.55
DOCTOR Well, well, well.
GENTLEWOMAN Pray God it be, sir.
DOCTOR This disease is beyond my practice. Yet I have58 known those which have walked in their sleep who have died holily in their beds.60
LADY MACBETH Wash your hands, put on your nightgown, look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried. He cannot come out on’s grave.
DOCTOR Even so?
LADY MACBETH To bed, to bed; there’s knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand.
What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed.
Exit.
DOCTOR Will she go now to bed?
GENTLEWOMAN Directly.
DOCTOR
Foul whisp’rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds70
Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.
More needs she the divine than the physician.
God, God forgive us all. Look after her;
Remove from her the means of all annoyance,75
And still keep eyes upon her. So good night.
My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight.77
I think, but dare not speak.
GENTLEWOMAN Good night, good doctor.
Exeunt.
V.2Drum and Colors.
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